Machine way guards



Oct. 1, 1968 A. E. JOHNSON 3,403,947

MACHINE WAY GUARDS Filed Oct. 12. 1966 INVEN'TOR.-

ATTORNEY 4 19/1/17? 6. jib/25022 I United States Patent 3,403,947 MACHINE WAY GUARDS Alvin E. Johnson, Western Springs, Ill., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 586,063 Claims. (Cl. 308-35 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine way cover comprising segmented portion pivoted about a rod adjacent the way, and lifted on and off the way by cam arms secured to a machine table as the table travels in different directions.

This invention relates to a machine way guard arrangement.

Although the function of a machine way guard is to protect from dirt and damage the precision-made ways or rails upon which a machine table moves during manufacturing operations, way guard arrangements known heretofore have been of only limited effectiveness in providing such protection. Furthermore, many of the known way guard arrangements require a considerable amount of space in addition to that allotted for operation of the machine itself.

The object of this invention is to provide a new machine way guard which is extremely effective in protecting the machine ways, which does not add substantially to the area required for the machine, and which is in addition low in both initial and maintenance cost.

This is accomplished by providing a way cover having segmented portions pivoted about a rod extending along the machine way. The segments are lifted on and olf the way by cam arms secured to the machine table, no action other than machine table travel being required for operation of the segments.

The details as well as other objects and advantages of this invention are disclosed in the following description of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine having the way guard arrangement of this invention and illustnating the action of the machine table in lifting the cover segments from the way;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view along line 2--2 of FIG- URE l enlarged to show the relative position of the parts;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along line 33 of FIG- URE 2 illustrating the construction of the cam arm which lifts the cover segments from the way; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the operation of the machine table in covering the way with the cover segments.

Referring to the drawing, a machine table includes a channel 12 supported for movement along a way or rail 14. A rod 16 is supported on a suitable bracket 18 and extends parallel to and adjacent way 14. A plurality of cover segments 20 are mounted for pivotal movement about rod 16 from a position covering way 14 (as illustrated by those segments indicated by 20a) to a position exposing way 14 (as illustrated by those segments labeled 20b). Cover segments 20 extend in overlapping relationship to completely cover and protect way 14.

A pair of cam arms 22 and 24 are secured to channel 3,403,947 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 12. As machine table 10 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1, cam arm 22 lifts cover segments 20 from rail 14, pivoting segments 20 about rod 16 to expose rail 14. Similarly, as machine table 10 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG- URE 4, cam arm 24 lifts cover segments 20, pivoting the Segments about rod 16 to cover the rail 14.

It will be appreciated that the mechanism is simple and inexpensively operated and maintained since no action other than movement of table 10 is required to operate cover segments 20.

It will be further appreciated that, if a chip trough is provided beneath rod 16, the movement of cover segments 20 will deposit any chips in the trough and thus prevent the chips or other foreign material from being scattered on the floor.

A pad 26 of cushioning material is secured to the under surface of each segment 20 to support the segments over rail 14 and space the segments above rail 14. Pads 26 prevent damage to rail 14 by the segments and additionally permit an extension 28 of cam arm 22 to reach beneath segments 20 and lift the segments off the rail.

I claim:

1. A machine having a movable table adapted to travel along a rail and including a rail cover arrangement comprising a rod extending parallel to and adjacent the rail, a plurality of cover segments supported on said rod for pivotal movement about said rod to alternatively cover and expose said rail, and first and second cam arms secured to the table, said first cam arm engaging successive cover segments to pivot said cover segments about said rod and expose said rail as said table travels toward segments covering said rail, said second cam arm engaging successive cover segments to pivot said cover segments about said rod and cover said rail as said table travels away from an exposed portion of said rail.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said cover segments extend in overlapping relation to completely cover said rail.

3. The machine of claim 1 which further includes means supporting said cover segments over the rail and providing a slight spacing between said cover segments and the rail and wherein said first cam arm extends between said cam segments and said rail to initially engage said cover segments.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said means comprises a cushioning pad secured to a portion of the surface of each cover segment adjacent said rail and spacing the cover segments from the rail.

5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the rail and said rod extend horizontally whereby said cover segments may direct foreign material accummulating thereon to one side of said rail as said cover segments are engaged by said first cam arm and pivoted about said rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,461,887 7/1923 Birhanzl 3083.5 2,850,332 9/1958 Begle 308-35 3,090,284 5/1963 Dunning 3083.8 X

7 FOREIGN PATENTS 923,618 4/1963 Great Britain.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

L. L. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner. 

